Welcome!
• Home • FAQs
• Site Map
Weather
• Contacts
Free Service Appreciation
Find out about advertising with us!

Netherlands Wins BMO Nations’ Cup before Record Crowd

September 12, 2009

Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB --- The Netherlands has not won the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup since 1997. Today in front of a record crowd of 67,789 at Spruce Meadows the Dutch returned to championship form in one of the richest Nations’ Cups in the World.

Things didn’t look good early for the Netherlands who lost lead off rider, Angelique Hoorn, after her horse Blauwendraad’s O’Brien had a misplaced landing and the pair had to retire.

The Dutch would need nearly perfect scores if they wanted to win as teams need to count three scores in each round. It was a true testament to team work as the Netherlands rallied and had a perfect score card in the first round. “With three riders left we knew that we had to do very good and the pressure was good for us,” said Harrie Smolders after the BMO Nations’ Cup.

The second round was nearly a repeat of the first, with the exception of a single time fault incurred by Marc Houtzager and Opium VS. That single fault put the Netherlands in the clear lead with their closest competitor, the United States in second with a team total of 12 faults.

“This is really amazing thing what they did today,” said Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens after his team finished in the gold medal position in the 2009 BMO Nations’ Cup.

“With the best riders and horses from ten nations, it was a thrilling 2009 BMO Nations’ Cup,” said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. Presenting the winning trophy to Netherlands, he remarked, “Equestrian fans witnessed a world class show of riders' and horses' stamina, precision and talent. We will remember this Nations’ Cup for a long time.”

2009 BMO Nations’ Cup Standings –

1. Netherlands

Chef d’Equipe – Rob Ehrens

Angelique Hoorn Blauwendraad’s O’Brien

Harrie Smolders Exquis Walnut De Muze

Albert Zoer Okidoki

Marc Houtzager Opium VS

2. USA

3. Mexico

4. Switzerland

4. Canada

For a complete list of results and tournament schedule visit the Spruce Meadows website at www.sprucemeadows.com

This year Sylvia and Diana are on-site at Spruce Meadows, producing daily episodes for the Equinely-Inclined! podcast. Stay tuned to the E-Notes page for links to each episode as it is produced.

To September 2009 News Articles Index | To Canada Equine ...On-Line Home